Coronavirus

Aug- 2021 -

10 August

Bira in talks with metro mayors to help retailers post-pandemic

The British Independent Retailers Association (Bira) has said it is involved in discussions with mayors of UK metropolitan cities to discuss “new ways” of supporting independent retailers post-pandemic. The talks, which are being led by the group’s CEO Andrew Goodacre, have been looking at support for reforms to business rates…

Jul- 2021 -

30 July

One in seven UK shops still remain vacant, BRC reveals

More than one in seven shops on UK high streets, retail parks and shopping centres are currently vacant, according to the latest data from the Local Data Company and the British Retail Consortium (BRC). The data revealed that fashion stores were amongst the “hardest hit” as customers primarily shifted to online shopping…

Jun- 2021 -

15 June

Lockdown delay ‘huge disappointment for highstreet’, says Bira

Andrew Goodacre, the CEO of Bira, has described the extension of lockdown restrictions as a “huge disappointment for the high street” and called for greater government support for retailers. According to Goodacre, the extension, which will see remaining social distancing measures continue beyond 21 June, will “damage consumer confidence”. In…

9 June

RSM retail head calls for ‘more flexible furlough scheme’

Jacqui Baker, head of retail at RSM, has called for a more “flexible furlough scheme” to allow retailers to “manage peaks and troughs of activity”, as the UK comes out of lockdown. In her plea, which comes ahead of the government’s coronavirus select committee this afternoon, Baker said that retailers…

2 June

Two-thirds of retailers face legal action in july over rents, warns BRC

Two-thirds of retailers have been told by landlords that they will be subject to legal measures from July, once the moratorium on aggressive debt enforcement ends, according to the British Retail Consortium (BRC). Research conducted by the group shows that 30% of retailers have already faced County Court Judgements (CCJs)…

Apr- 2021 -

28 April

The Kennel Club urges new dog owners to be ‘vigilant’ as lockdown eases

Following a year of emergency Covid-19 laws meaning puppies could be delivered to new homes, The Kennel Club is urging vigilance from would-be dog owners as domestic travel restrictions across Britain relax. The group, which oversee canine activities such as dog shows, said potential new owners should avoid buying a…

9 April

Customers must ‘play their part’ in keeping retail staff safe, says BRC

Ahead of the reopening of ‘non-essential’ retail on 12 April, the British Retail Consortium (BRC) and trade group Usdaw are asking people to “play their part in keeping shop workers safe” and ensure there is “no risk” to the government’s roadmap out of lockdown. According to the BRC, the pandemic…

Feb- 2021 -

24 February

Scotland to reopen non-essential retail from 26 April

First minister Nicola Sturgeon has announced that non-essential retailers in Scotland will be able to reopen from 26 April. Sturgeon outlined the country’s exit out of lockdown restrictions yesterday (23 February), giving businesses a timeframe of when they can expect to reopen. Scotland’s stay-at-home order is likely to remain in…

22 February

PM outlines ‘roadmap’ out of lockdown

Prime minister Boris Johnson has set out his four-step “roadmap” to guide the nation out of lockdown “cautiously but irreversibly”, calling the plan a “one-way road to freedom”. Step one will begin from 8 March, when all schools will be allowed to open with outdoor after-school sports and activities allowed.…

Dec- 2020 -

17 December

Furlough scheme extended until April 2021

The furlough scheme has been extended until the end of April 2021 with the government continuing to contribute 80% towards wages to employee’s pay, Chancellor Rishi Sunak has confirmed today (17 December). The government will also extend current government-guaranteed Covid-19 business loan schemes until the end of March. This includes…